A Scion of the Kumpani Bahadur

Hastings Standard, Issue 225, 20 January 1897, Page 4

A Scion of the Kumpani Bahadur

A TALE OF INDIAN SPORT. [Speciality written for the ILvstINGS STANDARD.] By F. D'A. C. De Lisle. r All rir/lits I'l-srrrnl ht/ the author./ Chapter ll.— : The Grand Military Crp. The weather changes from intolerably hot to wot and warm during the Monsoons in India ; and sport is almost at a stand-till. A sky race meeting here and there, with an occasional gymkhana, and a regimental cricket match, is all the amusement to be got during the rains. Carr-.Jones had joined at the most trying period of Indian weather. The hot weather was fairly on. And such hot weather ! To a 'griftin ' it was unendurable, and Jones found it almost unbearable. He adopted the coolest mufti, his khaki regimentals were of the finest material, and he took every precaution that fertile ingenuity could suggest to avoid the heat. But the weather told steadily upon him. Especially as he was constantly on duty, thanks to the untiring watchfulness of Major Bruce, who seemed to have laid himself out expressly to work the new ' sub ' to death. This he did purposely, to jeopardize •Jones' chance at the approaching As-sault-at-Arms ; though he knew that he was in hard training for the Grand Military Cup—a trophy for the best all-round swordsman in the British forces in India. Contingent. And this was how it came about that Jones was selected to compete. About a fortnight or so after the snake shooting affair, one morning after parade the whole regiment were brought up with a " Halt " in the barrack square. Then the senior Ressaldar stepped out and at a sign from the Commandant addressed the troopers and "non-coms 'j of the 28th in their own tongue. The gist of his address was the grand annual military Assault-at-Arms at Lahore, and the troopers were ordered to select the flower of the regiment for practice. In the club-room after the regiment had been dismissed, the conversation turned on the same thing. " Deuced pity we have lost old Mogul !" cried Lieut. Prinsep. " Though he did get religion, I never saw his equal at handling a lance at tent pegiug. He was always a sure point for the regiment !" " I'm afraid we must give up all hope of winning the pegging trophy," said Captain Fraser. " I never was much good and I think the rest of us rank about the same. Ever do any tent pegging Jones '?" " No, I never have done," answered Carr-Jones. " I can use the sword and rapier, and do most things in athletics, but I've never tried tentpegging." "It's glorious fun," said Lieutenant Somerset. " I could peg all day long. But as Fraser says, we are only a lot of moderates. The Mogul was so good, that we always left it to him and neglected practice. Little thinking we should lose him so soon. Yes, I'm afraid the pegging will be notched against us this time !" " Any good with the sword Jones *?" asked Captain Polhill-Carew casually. '• Well, Martel and Solingen said I was the best at Aldershot. I got three medals in the annual competitions in the schools." " Have you ever seen "the Natives at it ? " said Captain Fraser. " No, I have not. But I am told they are very good," answered Jones. " Invincible my lad," said Major I Concannon who had not yet spoken, " They are the finest swordsmen in the world. I'd back them against any nation, and the pick of the maitiys D'AniH's in Europe. They are individually invincible." " They will start practice to-morrow morning after parade," said Lieutenant Prinsep, " and you will see the best of our ' Non-coms ' at work. That man of yours, Lai Singh, is a perfect demon at it." " Very little use my going in then," said Jones. " What else is there " Oh ! cutting lead, lemons, sheep, silk handkerchiefs, and heaps of other tricks, but wo leave all that to the ' Non-coms.' None of us are good enough to equal them," said Lieutenant Prin>rp. " I think we can safely depend on Lai Singh, Futteh Din, and Mai Bux, the senior Kote Kuffadar, to bring in thtve points in the sword contests. And Karum Bux, the Woodie Major, is a certainty for lance bayonet. It will he in the sword /•-/'.*»* lance and sword msiis bayonet that we shall In- badly represented," said Major Concannon. " I shall have a dig at the sword bayonet," said Captain FolhillCarew. ••And I suppose wo must be represented in the sword /-.•<•<;« lance : I'll try it if everybody is agreeable," said Lit-atenant Somerset. '• Isett.fr lr-t us see what Jones can do Sir-'," said Captain Fraser. •• We can settle the competitors later on. Haw a practice to-morrow morning, Join's, will you " With pleasure," said Jones. " I've b«'fn terribly fagged with the heat lately, and I'm afraid I'm getting weak. So don't look for my best, sir." ••Who's on patrol duty to-day asked Major Cancauuou suddenly. Lieutenant Prinavp walked over to the sfrviw-book and read : " Patrol . Lieutenant Carr-Jones ; cantonments from lO.iiO a.m. to relief." '• Why you were on duty all day ye-u-rdaj, Jones," said Captain Polhill Can w. '• Yes : and I was nearly dead when I was relieved." answered Jones. Old East India Company.

" Qui hi roared the Major. " Huizni/r!" answered the orderly entering and saluting. " Doctor sahib salaam do : Major sahib hither nnmckta" (compliments to the doctor ; say I want him here). The orderly saluted and retired. " The blasted service is going to the dogs," growled Major Concannon, as good a fellow as ever breathed the breath of life ; " I'm going to have you invalided for a week, Jones ; you young cubs will have to do his work instead"—Lo went on addressing the other juniors present. " Oh ! I can hang out much longer, sir " Jones was commencing. " Rubbish ! rubbish !" said the grumpy old fellow. " You don't know what harm you are doing your constitution. Wait till you've had eighteen years of India, then you can judge for yourself. Morning doctor, I want this young cub invalided for a week; upset by heat, you about the cantonments that's all. He's falling to pieces through sun." Dr Armstrong smiled good-naturedly, examined the new sub attentively and then went over to the service book and wrote opposite the day's order. " Invalided, one week, on leave in cantonments only.—J. E. Ahmstroxg, surgeon." " Now laddie " said the kindly surgeon " ride about, and have a day's shikari (hunting), and get as much morning breeze as you can. You're going too fast that's all. Over zealous I fancy." Carr-Jones smiled curiously and murmured his thanks. " Pass that book over here Somerset," said Major Concannon and he wrote ' Lieut. Prinsep ' under ' Lieut. Carr-Jones' and signed it 'Alfred Concannon Major.' "Now, my boy" hecontinued rising, " let's see what kind of a swordsman you are to-morrow morning," and smiling humorously at all he trotted off to his own quarters. " Pity all majors are not more like him!" said Lieutenant Somerset, and the two Captains, looked out of the jhi/s-iitlti/s (windows), and whistled loudly, feigning not to hear the remark. " Capital fellow, Concannon," said Captain Eraser to Captain PolhillCarew, as they walked across the compound to their hazri (breakfast), " I wonder Bruce doeanot see that he is over doing it. Those boys are beginning to murmur over loud." " Yes, it shows how they must like Jones," answered his companion, "for they have easier times. I'm afraid Bruce has enough power to kill that lad with over-work. You see he's acting Adjutant now !" " I fancy the Chief will notice it soon. It's getting too marked. Bertrand asked me yesterday if Jones was the only junior officer in the regiment," said Captain Fraser. " Well I hope the Chief irill speak. But this week of rest will lull all suspicion I'm afraid," answered Captain Polhill-Carew. And it did. The next morning, refreshed by a long rest and a big swim, instead of two hours flogging round the parade ground, Carr-Jones stripped and rode into the ring to meet his troop Kote Ruft'adar Mai Bux. All the non-coms, and troopers not on duty were present, eager to see how their new officer would shape ; and every officer in the regiment, from Commandant to the juniors, was present also. Mai Bux was a really expert swordsman, and there were only two men in the regiment who could knock him out. But the new "sub" pasted him all round the ring, and the Kuffadar gave in with a flush of pride, saying he was proud of his officer. There were immediate cries from the Natives for "Lai Singh," and " Bravo " and " Well played, Jones," came from his brother officers. Colonel Cleeve spoke to the senior Ressaldar, who at once called upon Trooper Lai Singh to ride into the ring. The trooper, a magnificently moulded Punjabi, who was CarrJones's body servant also, rode into the ring, without a mask, in nothing but a turban, his arms, neck, and chest bare, his huge muscles and

sinews standing out like sculptured bronze. Jones looked inquiringly at his brother officers. He felt disinclined to attack a man wearing no mask. " He never wears a mask, Jones," said Capt Fraser. "If you can cut him over the head, do so. He takes all risks 1" Jones looked at Lai Singh, and the latter smiled and showed his glittering white teeth. " Fira urn/ Sahib "he cried. " Sub teke hail" (it's all right.) And then they met. Disinclined to attack a maskless man Jones stood on the defensive, and gave Lai Singh many trickly openings, but the native was too clever to expose himself. He attacked the ' sub ' like a whirlwind, and with superb skill and magnificent horsemanship, he rained clown cuts upon him. But, though he kept up a furious attack for full three minutes, not once did a stroke go home. Cool as ice, cut, thrust, and parry, came from Jones, as if at sword exercise. The troopers yelled themselves mad with excitement. The officers cheered and shouted encouragement. " Stick to him, Lai Singh," yelled Major Bruce. " Now, now, under his guard ! " "Bravo Jones" shouted Captain Fraser, " Beautifully parried, sir ! " The excitement rose to fever heat, Lai Singh, his eyes flashing fire, his beard and moustaches curling fiercely, felt that at last he had met a foeman worthy of him. His cuts and thrusts flashed like lightning over the subaltern's head. At length overcome by excitement, Jones took the attack and for five minutes the colossal Punjabi parried, thrust and parried for his life. Neither had yet got a blow home, and they had been ceaselessly at it for eight minutes. Of the two, Lai Singh was the better swordsman, but his opponent was far away the best horseman. Thus their powers were equalise:!, for what Jones lost in swordmanship he made up by his superb horsemanship. The shouts and cries round the ring grew loud and fierce. The combatants perspired freely and breathed hard. Both their horses were foam covered and bathed in sweat. Once again Lai Singh got the attack and madly he cut for the winning stroke. Suddenly, like lightning, Jones wheeled his charger round, pulled him back on his haunches, aud as Lai Singh dashed by, plunging forward almost upon his antagonist who had half turned again, Jones swung round a cut with all his power and caught the Punjabi fairly and squarely across the face. [To be continued.]